Obama says missile defense plan is unlikely before election

Updated 10:55 pm, Monday, March 26, 2012

U.S. President Barack Obama (left) and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stand together at the end of a bilateral meeting at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea.

U.S. President Barack Obama (left) and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stand together at the end of a bilateral meeting at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea.

Photo: Associated Press

Obama says missile defense plan is unlikely before election

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SEOUL, South Korea — In their joint statement to reporters, President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev spoke carefully about continuing discussions on the sensitive issues of European missile defense.

But in an unscripted moment picked up by camera crews, the American president was more blunt: Let me get re-elected first, he said; then I'll have a better chance of making something happen.

“On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it's important for him to give me space,” Obama can be heard telling Medvedev, apparently referring to the incoming Russian president, and outgoing prime minister, Vladimir Putin.

“Yeah, I understand,” Medvedev replies, according to an account relayed by an ABC News producer, who said she viewed a recording of the discussion made by a Russian camera crew. “I understand your message about space. Space for you ... ”

“This is my last election,” Obama interjects. “After my election, I have more flexibility.”

Medvedev, who last week demanded written proof that Russia is not the intended target of U.S. missile defense efforts, responded agreeably.

“I understand,” he told the U.S. president. “I will transmit this information to Vladimir.”

The exchange was a rare glimpse of a world leader speaking frankly about the political realities he faces at home.

Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney quickly criticized Obama for the remark, saying in a statement, “President Obama signaled that he's going to cave to Russia on missile defense, but the American people have a right to know where else he plans to be ‘flexible' in a second term.”

In a statement to reporters, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said that reaching an agreement with Russia on missile defense will “take time and technical work.”

Because 2012 is an election year in both countries, Rhodes added, “it is clearly not a year in which we are going to achieve a breakthrough.”

Therefore, the two leaders agreed “it was best to instruct our technical experts to do the work of better understanding our respective positions, providing space for continued discussions on missile defense cooperation going forward,” Rhodes said.

He reiterated that the administration is “committed to implementing our missile defense system, which we've repeatedly said is not aimed at Russia.”